Former Fiji Airways executive Shalendra Maharaj has been appointed the new Chief Executive Officer of Airports Vanuatu Limited (AVL).
Maharaj, who previously served as Executive Manager Operations at Fiji Airways, will take up the five-year appointment on October 1, 2026.
His appointment follows a competitive recruitment process that attracted candidates from Vanuatu, the Pacific and internationally.
Maharaj is currently Manager Aviation Services at Newman, Marble Bar and Nullagine airports in Australia, overseeing airport operations, safety, security, regulatory compliance and performance.
His aviation career includes senior roles with Fiji Airways, Emirates, Qantas Airways, dnata and Pionair Australia.
At Fiji Airways, Maharaj provided strategic leadership across flight scheduling, ground operations, maintenance and logistics.
The AVL Board said his extensive airline and airport experience, together with expertise in infrastructure redevelopment, risk management and regulatory compliance, makes him well suited to lead the organisation.
He succeeds Jason Rakau, who has served as AVL chief executive since 2016.
AVL Board chairman Jesse Benjamin said Maharaj’s leadership comes at an important time for Vanuatu’s aviation sector, with the country’s airports playing a critical role in tourism, trade, investment and national connectivity.
